since my lovely Eff&Music group has disbanded, for lack of a better word, i will just be continuing my music blogs on my Chasing Jamesly blog when i feel like writing. and here i am! happy tuesday, and happy mardi gras!!! i was lucky enough to be able to go to mobile this past weekend with my parents and go to my first mardi gras parade in years. it was so much fun and much calmer than i imagine new orleans to be at this time of year. i learned that mobile actually has the oldest mardi gras celebration in the country- even though new orleans is most well known for it, someone named joe cain really used to do it up in mobile. good to know. glad i have ties there. it was loads of fun- got a lot of beads, ate some great food, slept a lot. a grand weekend.

i realized, while on the road, that i’ve been in dire need of some new music. i’m sure all of you heard the great news that dave is resuming touring this year AND that they’re back in the studio with an almost-completed album, and it made me realize how fully committed they are to their music, and how it’s never a super long time between hearing from them, whether live or on a new CD. i love that, but i’ve become spoiled. i gained a lot of new favorite bands a couple years ago, in the months before my first coachella, a lot of which were just starting out and riding the high happy waves of indie success. i still love these bands, and listen to their stuff over and over again, but sadly haven’t heard much from them since. i decided to lump them all together and call them the Indie Rock Class of 2010, and i’m here today to ask, what’s up? where the eff are y’all? new albums, new singles even? something. i have a feeling they’re starting to wake up and get back with it- Sleigh Bells just released their sophomore effort Reign of Terror today- but i’m ready for more. it seems i keep having to find new bands to listen to when all i want is more comfort food from my favorites. don’t get me wrong- i love finding new music. fo sho. but i miss my Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Phoenix, XX, etc. i’ve never made an album- i’m sure it takes time, patience, and the gods of songwriting to all come together and cause such perfection, but can i just be a brat and complain for a minute? and throw in some videos of my favorites?? gee thanks.

Passion Pit, where are you? i don’t even need an album. just a tour near me would be nice. i don’t think we ever had as much fun as we did with you at the tabernacle. Phoenix, i know you’re more of an Indie Rock alumni, but you haven’t been back to see us since 2010 either. Local Natives, are you still alive? are you working on new music or did you give up on us? The XX, i heard you were back in the studio. props. can’t wait to see ya. Avetts, i will again acknowledge alumni status for you, but atlanta misses you. why you go all these other places and never come see us, huh? need you, kiddos. and Vampire Weekend, i know you’re out there somewhere. whatcha been up to? anything new and fun for us yet? your albums are so short. they always leave me wanting more. i’m ready to hang out and jump a lot and be preppy again. c’mon.

i guess i’ll just be patient and see what happens. keep listening to new music and mix in a little of the Class of 2010. and of course, stay steady with my good friend dave. he’ll be at lakewood on 5.22.12! can’t wait y’all. here’s a little dave for your fat tuesday.

have a great week, y’all. today i’ll be loading up on sweets as i attempt to give up sweets for Lent (along with meat, as usual). it’s gonna be a bumpy ride, but today sure will be awesome 🙂 til next time. laissez les bons temps rouler!